(RxWiki News) When patients have more treatments to choose from, they have a better chance of finding one that works best for them. Now, diabetes patients and their doctors have a new drug to consider.
Less than two months after FDA approval, Tradjenta (linagliptin) - a drug for lowering blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes - is now available in pharmacies across the United States.
"There is a new blood sugar drug for diabetcis."
Tradjenta is made by Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Eli Lilly and Company.
According to Wa'el Hashad, from Boehringer Ingelheim, the speed at which the drug went from FDA approval to pharmacy shelves shows how the two drug companies are committed to improving care for patients. He adds that Tradjenta is an important new drug option that could help millions of Americans control their type 2 diabetes.
While the drug will help those with type 2 diabetes, Tradjenta should not be taken by type 1 diabetics.
Before taking Tradjenta, talk to your doctor. It is especially important you tell your doctor all of the other medications you are taking, as Tradjenta may affect how other drugs work and other drugs may affect how Tradjenta works.
Boehringer Ingelheim and Lilly are currently talking with different insurance companies about how treatment with Tradjenta will be covered.
Some patients may qualify for a Savings Card Program, which can save patients up to $150 per month. The Savings Card Program is valid for as long as two years and is now available online and in many doctors' offices. Go to www.tradjenta.com or call 1-877-512-4246 for more information on the Savings Card Program.
Tradjenta won FDA approval after a clinical trial that involved around 4,000 adults with type 2 diabetes. The drug was tested on its own and in combination with other common type 2 diabetes medications, including Fortamet (metformin), sulfonylurea, and Actos (pioglitazone).
Both on its own and in combination with the other diabetes drugs, Tradjenta led to significantly lower blood sugar levels in diabetes patients.
One side effect of Tradjenta was the common cold. Some of the patients taking a combination of drugs suffered from hypoglycemia (when blood sugar gets too low). Some patients taking Tradjenta developed pancreatitis.
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., based in Ridgefield, CT, is the largest U.S. subsidiary of Boehringer Ingelheim Corporation (Ridgefield, CT) and a member of the Boehringer Ingelheim group of companies.
